Indian Rosewood VS Burma Teak Premium Grade
- Harder wear surface (Janka 2440 vs 1070 lbf)
- Stronger in bending (MOR 116.0 vs 100.0 MPa)
- Easier to machine and fasten
- Lighter (0.66 vs 0.75 g/cm³)
- Solid choice where its profile fits the project
Visual comparison
Winner by category
There isn't one universally best wood — there's a best wood for each purpose.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Durability | Tie |
| Stability | Tie |
| Hardness | Indian Rosewood |
| Strength (MOR) | Indian Rosewood |
| Stiffness (MOE) | Indian Rosewood |
| Flame spread | Tie |
| Machining ease | Burma Teak Premium Grade |
| Lightness | Burma Teak Premium Grade |
Engineering data
| Property | Indian Rosewood | Burma Teak Premium Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 2440WD lbf | 1070 lbf |
| Density | 0.75FPL g/cm³ | 0.66PROSEA g/cm³ |
| MOE | 11.6FPL GPa | 10.7 GPa |
| MOR | 116.0FPL MPa | 100.0 MPa |
| Durability | Class 1 Very Durable | Class 1 Very Durable |
| Stability | Moderate | Moderate |
| Fire (E84) | Class B indicative | Class B indicative |
| Radial Shrink | 2.7WD % | 2.5 % |
| Tangential Shrink | 5.8WD % | 5 % |
| T/R Ratio | 2.15 | 2.0 |
Figures carry the same source status as the species pages they come from — verified where cited, indicative where marked.
Best for
| Application | Recommended | Suitability |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor decking / pergola | 🥇 Indian Rosewood | ★★★★☆ |
| Exterior cladding | 🥇 Burma Teak Premium Grade | ★★★☆☆ |
| Flooring / wear surfaces | 🥇 Indian Rosewood | ★★★★☆ |
| Furniture / interior joinery | 🥇 Burma Teak Premium Grade | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Structural / load-bearing | 🥇 Indian Rosewood | ★★★☆☆ |
Advantages & limitations
Indian Rosewood
Advantages relative to Burma Teak Premium Grade
- Janka is 2,440 lbf vs 1,070 lbf, about 2.3× harder
- MOR is 116 MPa vs 100 MPa, about 16% higher
Limitations relative to Burma Teak Premium Grade
Burma Teak Premium Grade
Advantages relative to Indian Rosewood
Limitations relative to Indian Rosewood
- Janka is 1,070 lbf vs 2,440 lbf, about 56% lower
- MOR is 100 MPa vs 116 MPa, about 14% lower
Recommendation
Choose Indian Rosewood if…
- Musical instruments (guitar backs, sides and fingerboards — the standard since the 1960s), fine furniture, decorative veneer, panelling and flooring where the higher hardness and bending strength are what the piece needs
- Turned and carved specialty objects where the harder Dalbergia surface is the working requirement
Choose Burma Teak Premium Grade if…
- Marine and boat work, harbour joinery, decking and exterior joinery where the shared Class 1 durability is the specification and the traditional teak role is what the project is specifying
- Interior furniture, staircases and cabinetmaking where either species is acceptable and the teak grain and colour are the design intent
Frequently asked questions
Which is more durable, Indian Rosewood or Burma Teak Premium Grade?
Neither — both carry the same EN 350 rating (Class 1, Very Durable). Outdoors, movement will not separate them either — 5.8% against 5.0% tangential. The practical difference is weight: Indian Rosewood runs 0.75 g/cm³ against 0.66, so Burma Teak Premium Grade is the easier fix overhead and the cheaper one to freight.
Which wood is better for outdoor use?
Both are EN 350 Class 1, and tangential movement runs 5.8% for Indian Rosewood against 5.0% for Burma Teak Premium Grade — close enough that decay resistance will not choose between them, and Burma Teak Premium Grade holds its dimension marginally better. Indian Rosewood gives the harder wearing surface at 2,440 lbf; Burma Teak Premium Grade is the lighter section at 0.66 g/cm³ — traffic favours the first, cladding and handling the second.
Is Indian Rosewood harder than Burma Teak Premium Grade?
Yes — Janka 2440 lbf vs 1070 lbf.